Living Costs in the Dominican Republic

[MikeFisher]

Definition--One where you are not going to get caught in gang crossfire.

no gang crossfires at any of the residencial areas in punta cana.

Mike

 

[AlterEgo]

Thanks Mike,

I do have a guy in mind I've known him for a few years he seams trust worthy. So I guess that a $100 USD s very low for a monthly salary. I would be covering all the house hold bills including the food for the dogs. I was wondering if there was a web site where I could find more information in regards to my rights as the employer and the rights of my employee. Its just a little nerve racking leaving the house for periods of time to go back home.

If you're leaving this person in your house, you have to pay him enough so he's not tempted to steal from you. It depends where this house is too. Salaries are higher in tourist areas and Santo Domingo. I'm guessing that about $200 a month would be a fair salary.

We have a rottie at our DR home, his food is about 1200 pesos a month normally, one 40 pound bag of Campion

 

[Criss Colon]

I was thinking 10,000 a month, but like "AE" says 8,000 minimum, more "Depending"???
How do you know this guy???
Get a copy of his "Cedula", front & back,Cel #, and visit his house, so later you can "Visit Your Furniture"!!!!!!
A good ful face close up would be nice!
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[jjon1616]

Thanks for all the advise on this topic, especially the wages and taking a copy of the Cedula. This guy is a friend of our friend, we have known him for about 2 years. He seems pretty honest and hard working.

 

[Carlos Thomas Murphy]

If that is the tone of the business relationship you are planning on setting, it would help if you are also a Mafia Don, otherwise, there are better options.

 

[azconj]

cheaper than Puerto Rico.

 

[MikeFisher]

cheaper than Puerto Rico.

not on every point, my friend.
DR is much cheaper if you want to purchase real estate, but for simple daily stuff like shopping at a average supermarket, costs for a simple beer at a gas station or prices for a good average dinner restaurant PR is def cheaper than Punta Cana.

Mike

 

[MikeFisher]

but PR/ on that case i mean San Juan, is def much more dangerous of a place than my home Punta Cana is, crime rate in PR/San Juan counts to the highest of the western hemisphere.

Mike

 

[DRob]

BUT there's a Best Buy right next to a Sam's Club in nearby Carolina. Donde esta su "geek squad," Mike? lol

 

[MikeFisher]

there may be a Best Buy in the Carolinas, i bet there are several of 'em, but such could not tease me to the Carolinas, i prefer to stick to pollito, good healthy beef and great seafood, means i stick to PC over the Carolinas, lol

Mike

 

[Omar_NYC]

Greetings everyone!

I recently took a trip to Santo Domingo to meet a woman for the first time ever. I had an excellent time and I expect to come again.

I came across this thread and wanted to contribute my own findings during my stay there. I hope this helps others who plan on making a similar trip. Personally, I found this place to be just as expensive as New York City where I come from, if not more.

All prices include ITBIS and US to DOP exchange rate of 40.98.

Bottle of sunscreen = RD$450.88 = US$11
Croissant sandwich breakfast combo meal at Burger King = RD$165.94 = US$4.05
Average price one gallon of regular gasoline = RD$243 = US$5.93
Lubriderm 200ml bottle of skin moisturizing cream = RD$190.81 = US$4.66
Listerine 250ml bottle mouthwash = RD$150.51 = US$3.67
Planeta Agua 4L water jug = RD$52.50 (ITBIS exempt) = US$1.28
Rica Orange Juice 32oz carton = RD$166.38 = US$4.06
Rica Milk 32oz carton = RD$66.95 (ITBIS exempt) = US$1.63
Eile can of whipped cream = RD$187.95 (ITBIS exempt) = US$4.59
Kelloggs cereal, small one where you can eat it like a cup = RD$43.37 = US$1.06
Dannon Yogurt = RD$67.85 = US$1.66
Goodnews shaving razors 5-pack = RD$159.30 = US$3.89
Trident gum = RD$42.42 = US$1.04
Snack wrap combo at MacDonald's = RD$119.84 = US$6.07
MacDonald's coffee = RD$119.84 = US$2.92 (little milk creamers are extra, included in this price)
MacDonald's burrito combo = RD$258.14 = US$6.30
Presidente beer bigger bottle than normal 16oz = RD$69.14 = US$1.69
Pollos Victorina grilled or crispy chicken sandwich combo = RD$240 = US$6.25
Chinese food 3-piece fried chicken meal includes fries = RD$170 = US$4.25

 

[Omar_NYC]

Also, Scotiabank exchanged my dollars at a better rate than popular, though not by much. Popular exchanges at 40.55, Scotiabank at 40.8.

DO NOT EXCHANGE A LOT OF MONEY AT THE AIRPORT!!!!! It's very convenient and necessary to exchange right at Las Americas Airport if you need to buy something right after landing, but if you can wait until reaching Santo Domingo, I suggest you do so. The airport exchanges at 35.45!!!!!

 

[bob saunders]

Except your SNACK wrap was $2.92 not $6.07

 

[DRob]

Thanks, Omar. And welcome to DR1!

This forum is about living costs, not about visiting costs, which as you've experienced, can be far different. For example, when I visit the North Coast, the villa I stay in can run upwards of $1500 for a long weekend. There are folks on this forum who try and live on that amount over an entire month.

So, it can vary, widely.

P.s. Be careful with your new friend. If you met her online, chances are a LOT of others did as well. Don't do the Western Union thing with her.

 

[Omar_NYC]

Except your SNACK wrap was $2.92 not $6.07

I'm sorry, you're right.

 

[Omar_NYC]

Thanks, Omar. And welcome to DR1!

This forum is about living costs, not about visiting costs, which as you've experienced, can be far different. For example, when I visit the North Coast, the villa I stay in can run upwards of $1500 for a long weekend. There are folks on this forum who try and live on that amount over an entire month.

So, it can vary, widely.

P.s. Be careful with your new friend. If you met her online, chances are a LOT of others did as well. Don't do the Western Union thing with her.

Thanks for your warm welcome

Yeah.. I was shocked.. I asked the lady I spent my week there with how can people survive on their salaries there with things costing just as much as they do for me where I live in New York. She explained what I already assumed, and what I also personally do to make ends meet; people share apartments to split the rent, people cook and bag their meals for work, people lead simple, non-extravagant lifestyles, don't dine out much, don't do much pay entertainment.

As for her, I don't think too much about her true intentions for me. I have sent her money via Xoom and Western Union before, but not much. The most I've ever sent her was $50 and this was so she can purchase a SIM card and prepaid data plan from Orange so I can use it with my cell phone while I was down there, which she did, and so she can pay her relatives gas money to meet me at the airport when I landed there, which they did.

I've sent her money for other things like medicine for her daughter on the rare occasion when she's been short from her salary at work. But I haven't sent her much, and as of now it's been a good while since I've sent her anything. I've told her before, I can't send you money all the time like that. I have a tight budget, just like you. She understood, still talks to me.

 

[dv8]

omar, your list of prices... these are not the items frequently used by dominicans. they buy local brands of cosmetics (from shampoo to mouthwash). they eat plato del dia or dominican comida de calle (kipe, empanadas, riki).
also, the cost of everything goes down if you buy in bulk. one egg in a colmado is more expensive than a cost per egg if you buy a box of 30. a pound of chicken is different in a colmado, in a supermarket and a pollero.
dominican people manage on little and gringos work out how to balance their monthly costs...

 

[Omar_NYC]

omar, your list of prices... these are not the items frequently used by dominicans. they buy local brands of cosmetics (from shampoo to mouthwash). they eat plato del dia or dominican comida de calle (kipe, empanadas, riki).
also, the cost of everything goes down if you buy in bulk. one egg in a colmado is more expensive than a cost per egg if you buy a box of 30. a pound of chicken is different in a colmado, in a supermarket and a pollero.
dominican people manage on little and gringos work out how to balance their monthly costs...

Yeah.. I realize that maybe I'm sticker-shocked because I bought things that I recognized from New York and this will obviously cost more as an imported good compared to what's local, and the area where I stood is very commercial right in the middle of Santo Domingo so that would probably make things costlier as well. But for lack of knowing what would be safe to consume outside the vicinity of Ensanche Piantini, I chose to be safe with my stomach.

And hey... I'm not a gringo... I'm a Hispanic just like you, born and raised in Puerto Rico... I like your country for the people in it, not to throw the little bit of money I have around.

 

[dv8]

omar, i am polish so definitely a gringa in a dominicanland
i just wanted to point that once you live here you learn how to buy and what to buy. granted, a meal in mac will still be the same price, but you will be more likely to do an empanada with a juice instead.

 

[Criss Colon]

Omar, you might not think that the small amount of money you send is very much, but multiply that by the 10 other guys who are also sending her money, and she is doing quite well!
Cris Colon
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And for $500 dollars, you ain't gonna get much of an "Apartment In Santo Domingo"!